How Burna Boy Went Global

With his latest album, twice as tall, released in august, burna boy’s outgrown his title of “african giant” and is taking on the world. But home will always be where his heart is. Now, he’s asking his listeners to find out where their hearts truly belong

- Olive Pometsey

You could interpret it as the Nigerian artist committing to stay grounded in the wake of last year’s Grammy nominations and global recognition. But after speaking with him, it sounds much more like a rousing call to those with African heritage, both within and outside the continent, to remember and respect their roots. The way he sees it, Africa planted the seeds for the modern society and, if we want to move it forward, then perhaps it’s time to go back to where it all began.

Burna Boy’s already there, of course, hunkered down in Lagos, Nigeria, where he’s seen out the pandemic while working from home on his album. ‘It’s been great for me, but I can’t say the same for everyone else,’ he says of lockdown life. ‘I’ve spent it being creative, researching, finding out more about myself, learning more about my ancestors, trying to exercise my mind and body.’

He crafted Twice As Tall predominantly in his home, which was a first in the 29-year-old’s almost-decade-long career. His particular brand of selfcoined Afro-fusion, a sumptuous blend of global Black sounds – Afrobeat, dancehall, reggae, rap and R&B – spearheaded a wave of mainstream Afroinfluenced music, has crashed onto overseas shores.